Elevator



April 1941- w. w. WILSON ELEVATOR //V [/5 N TOE/- Array/v54 April 8,1941. w. w. WILSON ELEVATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1958 ,4 7'TaeA/EK MAL/AM M/ Mwa/v,

April 1941- W. w. WILSON 2,237,856

ELEVATOR Filed July 11, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR- A TTORNEYPatented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELEVATOR William W.Wilson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 11, 1938, Serial No. 218,609

22 Claims.

My invention relates in general to elevators employed. in the drillingand servicing of wells to raise and lower pipe or casing, and relates inparticular to an elevator incorporating certain novel parts, features ofconstruction, and cooperation of parts which contribute to its safety,dependability, and facility of use.

Elevators of the general character of my invention are commonly employedin the oil drilling industry and are ordinarily connected by means oflinks to a lifting means, such as the travelling block, and have memberswhich are adapted; to be locked in closed relation around a pipe in aposition below a collar so that the collar will serve as a shoulder toprevent the elevator from moving oil? the end of the pipe. The use ofelevators in the handling of strings of pipe has always presented a moreor less serious problem owing to the danger of dropping a string of pipein the well, or the dropping of a stand or length of pipe in or aroundthe derrick, thereby endangering the workmen who must work on thederrick floor during the raising or lowering of the pipe.

It is an object of my invention to provide an elevator which when lockedaround a pipe will be securely latched and will not become unlatched anddrop the pipe. This object is accomplished by certain novel features ofdesign and arrangement of parts which will be pointed out in detailhereinafter, and which provide a safe and dependable elevator.

It is another object of my invention to provide an elevator havingmembers adapted to be moved into closed relation around a pipe, and

having latch means for locking these members in such closed relation,this latch means being of such character that inertia or impact will notact to release the latch means, In the preferred practice of myinvention, as disclosed in the herewith drawings, the latch meansemploys a latching dog adapted to be brought into engagement with alatching shoulder, this dog having a counter-weighting member projectingsubstantially diametrally opposite therefrom and being of such form andsize as to serve as a counter-weight for the dog, giving to the movableparts of the latch means a dynamic balance to prevent movement thereofshould a heavy or sharp blow be struck against the elevator or the pipecarried thereby, or should the elevator or the pipe carried therebystrike against some object during the movement thereof.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an elevator having alatch which is so con;- structed and located that it cannot, byengagement with other parts during the use: of the elevator, becomemoved into an unlatching position.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an elevator having alatch means equipped with an operating element or handle so placed thatin order to release the latch means it must be moved in an outwarddirection relative to the elevator and the pipe supported thereby. Thechief value of this construction is that should an inward blow or forcebe applied to the operating element of the latch means, as by thestriking of such element against an object, such force cannot operate tomove the latch means in a direction or in a manner to cause release ofthe same. A feature of the invention is that the latch means isproteoted by surrounding parts of the elevator so that it cannot beinjured in the ordinary severe use thereof in well drilling orservicingoperations.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elevator of thegeneral character hereim before described having a latch means embracinga plurality of latching positions so that such latch means will beoperative to prevent opening of the elevator even though the pipeengaging members thereof have not been moved into fully closed positionrelative to the pipe.

It is an object of my invention to provide an elevator in which the pipesupporting members may be operated to automatically close around thepipe and be automatically latched in closed position.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide an elevator inwhich the pipe supporting members are supported in an open position, andin which relative movement between a pipe and the elevators will causeengagement of the pipe with the elevators to move the pipe supportingmembers into proper alignment with the pipe to permit closingtherearound, to close said members around the pipe, and to thereafterlatch the members together in closed position so that the pipe may beraised, lowered, or suspended thereby.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elevator havingcooperating parts hinged so as to swing into closed relation around apipe with latching means for locking such members in closed relation,and such members being yieldably urged toward open relation by means ofa spring and being so formed that when the weight of a pipe is broughtthereag-ainst the pipe enclosing members will swing into closingalignment with the pipe and then into closed relation, whereupon thelatch means will function to lock the same in such closed relation.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide an elevator inwhich if the pipe supporting members are latched in partly closedposition, the weight of the pipe on the pipe supporting members willoperate to fully close the members and to cause them to be latched infully closed position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elevator of thisgeneral character having cooperating members adapted to be assembled ina position to substantially surround a pipe and having hinge meansconnecting these members in such a manner that the downward force of thepipe and the upward reaction of the suspending links of the elevatorwill cause the cooperating members to swing from a partly closedposition to a fully closed position around the pipe. Accordingly, if byanychance the cooperating members of the elevator should. be

swung into such partly closed relation around a pipe as to result in apreliminary engagement of the latch means, the forces applied when theelevator operates to lift the pipe .will result in the complete closingof the cooperating members and likewise the engagement of the latchmeans so as to hold the cooperating members in fully closed position.

Further objects of the invention include the provision of means wherebythe elevator may be readily swung relative to a horizontal axis as theresult of the suitable placing of trunnions and the provision of a novelform of handle means for the elevator, thus providing an elevator. whichmay be manually controlled with ease; the provision of hinge means whichslopes relative to the central axis defined by the pipe enclosingmembers when they are in closed relation, such hinge cooperating in theprovision of means for producing an automatic closing of the elevatoraround a pipe, and producing a force, which acts at all times that apipe is supported, tending to keep the members in closed position; andmeans engageable by a pipe when the elevator is in open position, suchmeans serving to guide or move the pipe into centralized relationrelative to the cooperating parts of the elevator, whereupon the forceapplied by the pipe to the elevator may result in the movement of theelevator into proper alignment with the pipe to permit closing and inthe movement of such members into closed position around the pipe.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out inthe following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view showing a preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation showing the front of the elevator disclosed inFig. 1.

Fig. .3 is a cross-section taken substantially as indicated by the line3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken as indicated by the line4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 55 of Fig.2.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the elevator in open position.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 1-of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view cooperating with Fig. '7 to show the elevatorin latched position around the pipe.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the forward portion ofone of the cooperating pipe engagement members and the latch leversupported thereon.

Fig. 10 is a view showing the back of the elevator, and showing therelation of the elevator suspending means to the pipe engaging membersof the elevator.

Fig. 11 is a view looking toward Fig. 10 as indicated by the arrow lltherein and having a graph showing the general character of forcestending to close the elevator around the pipe.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on a plane indicated by theline l2-l2 of Fig. 9.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the drawings, the elevator I9comprises in its preferred embodiment a pair of cooperating pipeengagingmembers and 2| respectively, having bodies 22 and 23 in which nearlysemi-cylindrical channels 25 are-formed, these channels 25 being soformed and placed that when the pipe-engaging members 28 and 2| are inclosed relation, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, they will define acircular opening 26 of a diameter slightly greater than the externaldiameter of the pipe which is to be handled by the elevator 19.Preferably, the channels 25 and likewise the opening 26 defined therebyenlarge in downward direction so that the smallest diameter of theopening 26 will be at the upper end thereof. The upper ends of thebodies 22 and 23 of the pipe-engaging members 20 and 2! have arcuatefaces 21, as shown in Fig. 6, in position to engage the lower end 28 ofa coupling sleeve or tool joint 29, Fig. 10, which is ordinarily screwedon the ends of a stand of pipe 30 adapted to be raised, lowered, orsuspended by the elevator I9.

As best shown in Fig. 7, the body 23 has rearwardly projecting hingedlugs 3| and 32 near the upper end thereof, and hinged lugs :33 and 34project rearwardly from the lower portion of the body 22. The pair ofhingedlugs 3l-32 of the body 23 define a space 35 arranged to receive ahinge lug 3'! formed on the body 22 so as to project rearwardlytherefrom. The pair of hinged lugs \33-34 which project from the lowerportion of the body 22 define a space 36 which receives a hinged lug 38formed on the lower portion of the body 23 in rearwardly projectingrelation. A hinge pin 39 extends through the foregoing hinged lugs ofthebodies 22 and 23, as clearly shown in Fig, '7, and this hinge pin 39is disposed on an axis bb which slopes downwardly and inwardly at anangle to the axis a-a defined by the channel 25 of the body 23, suchaxis a-a being likewise the axis of the pipe 39 supported by theelevator! 9, when the elevator is in closed position around the pipe, asshown in Fig. 11.

The hinge pin 39 may be secured in place by means of a transverse cotterpin 40, which extends through one of said hinge lugs, for example, thelower hinge lug 34, and diametrally through the hinge pin 39. An axialopening '4! is formed in the hinge pin 39, the upper end thereof beingclosed by a threaded plug 42 and the lower end thereof being closed bythe cotter pin 49. The plug 42 may be removed and grease may be forceddown into the axial passage M, and such grease may be forced throughradial openings :44, 45, and 46 in the hinge pin 39, to the bores of thehinge lugs 3|, 32, and 38 which are formed on'the body 23. The bores ofthe hinge lugs 33, 34, and .3! require no lubrication for the reasonthat the hinge pin 39 is connected to the hinge lug 34 by means of thecotter pin and is, therefore, stationary with relation to the hinge lugs33, 34, and :31. In this simple manner ample lubrication of the hinge ofthe elevator 19 is assured.

The intermediate portion of the hinge pin 39 is surrounded by a coilspring 41 having its lower end 48 connected to the hinge pin 39 by meansof a screw 49, and the upper end 59 of the spring 41 is connected to thelug 32. The function of the spring 41 is to apply a yieldable forcetending to swing the pipe engaging members 29 and 2| from the closedposition thereof, as shown in Fig. 1, to an open position thereof, asshown in Fig. 6, and to yieldably maintain the members in such openposition. As shown in Fig. l, the lower hinge lug 34, which forms a partof the member 29, has a stop-shoulder I96 adapted to come intoengagement with a shoulder .lfllia on the member 2| when the members 20and 2| are swung outwardly from closed position to fully opened positionas shown in Fig. 6. To accomplish this yieldable application of force tothe members 29 and 2|, the upper end of the spring 41 is connecteddirectly to the lug 32 which projects from the body 23, and the lowerend 48 of the spring 41 transmits force through the screw 49, the hingepin 39, and the cotter pin 40 to the lug 34 which is formed on the body22 of the pipe engaging member 29.

The pipe engaging members 29 and '2ll have formed thereon diametrallyextending arms or trunnions 50 which project from the bodies 22 and .23of the members 29 and 2| in such position that when the members 29 and2| are in closed relation the trunnions 59 will extend diametrally withrelation to the opening 26. From the outer ends of the trunnions 59tubes or posts project downwardly, and through vertical openings 52therein screws '53 are extended to form securing means for handlemembers 54 disposed near the lower ends of the members 29 and 2| so asto lie in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the opening 28. As bestshown in Fig. 1, the handle members 54 are each of open-workconstruction so that there will be forward openings 55, intermediateopenings 56 and rearward openings 51 therein. It will be perceived thatthe forward openings 55 cooperate in the formation on the handles 54 offorward hand-grips 58 and that the rearward openings 5'! cooperate inthe forming of rearward hand-grips 59. handles 54 are of suchexaggerated form, as disclosed in the drawings, and are elongated insuch direction that the grips 58 and 59 lie respectively in forwardlyand rearwardly projecting relation, and accordingly adjacent of theforward and rearward portions of the elevator l9 so that case of accessthereto is had. The outer portion 80 of each handle member 54 has a boss6| formed thereon, such boss 9| having a threaded opening 62 to receivethe lower threaded end of a screw 53. The inner portions 83 of thehandle members 54 are substantially straight throughout a portion oftheir length so as to rest in channels 85 formed in the sides of thebodies 22 and 23 by spaced radially projecting lips 69 and 61. Thetrunnions 59, posts 5| and handles 54 cooperate in defining openings 68lying below the trunnions 50 and through which the bottom portions 69 ofeyes 18 extend, these eyes. 19 being formed at the lower ends of links1|, forming suspending means for connecting the elevator l9 to a hook1.2, Fig. 10, which may form a part of the lifting tackle or travellingblock in a derrick.

The elevator l9 has latch means 13 for connecting the forward edges 14and 15 of the members The 29 and 2| together when such members are inclosed relation, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Substantially centrallybetween the upper and lower ends of the body 22, a dog '14 serves as asupport for a hinge pin 15 disposed on an axis lying in a plane which isperpendicular to the axis of the opening 26 and substantially parallelto the trunnions 5|] when the pipe engaging members 20 and 2| are inclosed relation. As best shown in Fig. 12, the dog 14' has a forwardlyprojecting cylindrical boss 16 provided with a threaded opening 11 intowhich the latch pin or screw 15 is screwed, and around which a coilspring 18 is disposed, this spring I8 having the function of urging alatch lever 19, Fig. 9, in clockwise direction, or in such directionthat the upper part 89 of the lever 19 will be urged inwardly toward thebody 22. The upper part 89 of the lever 19 constitutes the handlethereof and the lower part 8| of the lever 19 constitutes the latch dog82 and downwardly projecting stem 83. As shown in Fig. 5, this stem 83and the lower end of the lever 19 rests in a radial slot or pocket 84formed in inwardly facing position in a metal body 85 which projectsfrom the lower part of the member 29, As shown in Fig. 5, this metalbody 85 extends forwardly from the member 20, then rightwardly at 86,and finally bends inwardly toward the member 2|, and is thus given ahookshaped form, with the slot 84 substantially centrally aligned withrespect to the opening 28. The lever 19 has a central boss 81 having abore 88 which receives the pin 15. The spring 18 normally urges thelower portion 8| of the lever 19 in leftward direction, or, in otherwords, outwardly with relation to the body 22, so that the stem 83normally rests in engagement with the face 90 of the metal body 85,forming the bottom of the slot 84. When the handle 89 is pulledoutwardly, or leftwardly, from the position of which it is shown in Fig.9, the lever 19 will be rotated in anti-clockwise direction and the stem83 will move rightwardly away from the shoulder or face 98, in the slot84. The latch dog 82 which forms a part of the lower portion 8| of thelever 19 is supported at its upper end by the pin 15 and lateralmovement of its lower end is prevented by the engagement of the stem 83with the side walls of the slot 84. The inner face of the handle 89 hasa projecting web 9| lying adjacent to a guard 92, comprised of a webwhich projects outwardly from the upper part of the body 22.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the latch dog 82 is of stepped form so as toprovide a primary shoulder 93 and a secondary shoulder 94, joined by atransverse shoulder 95. The face 96 of the latch dog 82, opposite theshoulder 94, diverges rearwardly with relation to the face 94 and meetsa face 91 which converges rearwardly with relation to the shoulder 94.The primary and secondary shoulders 93 and 94 are adapted to engage, indifferent positions of the latch dog 82, a stationary latching shoulder98 carried by a metal extension 99 which projects forwardly from thebody 23 of the pipe engaging member 2| so as to lie, when the members 20and 2| are in closed relation, between the metal body 85 which forms theguide for the lower end of the lever 19 and the latch pin 15. This metalextension 99 is likewise of hook-form, but is reversed to the hookformed by the metal body 85. In Fig. 4 the latch member, or dog, 82 isshown in the position which it assumes when the members 29 and 2| are infully closed relation. That is, the shoulder 94 is in engagement withthe stationary shoulder 98.

nearly so, the primary shoulder 93 would engage the latching shoulder 98and prevent opening of the elevator.

The boss 81 is substantially in the center of the latch lever I9, andthe upper and lower portions 88 and BI of the latch lever I9 aredynamically balanced so that inertia, momentum, or impact of theelevator I9 against the stationary object, or the strikingof a blowagainst the elevator .I9 or the pipe which is supported thereby, willnot cause a rotative movement of the lever I9 such as will tend to movethe latch dog '82, which forms a part of the lower portion 8| of thelever I9, out of engagement with the latching shoulder 98. Likewise, itwill be noted that the latch member 82 swings outwardly relative to thebody of the elevator I9 into latching engagement with the shoulder 98,and that in order to release the latch it is necessary to pull thehandle 88 outwardly,

blow can be applied to the lower portion 8| of the latch lever I9 tomove the same inwardlyout of latching position, and any inward blow orforce imparted to the upper portion or handle 88 of the latch lever I9will tend to rotate the lower portion 8| in outward direction, or inother words, into latching position.

To rotate the latch lever I9 in anti-clockwise direction from theposition in which it is shown in Fig. 9, so that the latch member 82thereof will pass over the approach portion I88 of the metal extension99, I provide on the body 23 of the pipe engaging member 2I a liftingmeans I8I disposed above the latch pin and having an inclined face I82adapted to engage the inner surface portion I83 of the handle 88 and toforce the handle 88 outwardly as the members and 2| approach closedposition. As shown in Fig. 3, the member I8I has a notch I84 disposed tothe right of the face I82, into which drops the intermediate portion I85of the lever 88 when the pipe engaging members 28'and 2| reach suchnearly closed position that the primary shoulder 93 of the latch member82 may pass into overlapping relation with the latching shoulder 98 ofthe hook member 99 formed near the lower portion of the member 2|.

On the members 28 and 2|, as shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7, and 8 are webs- I01which project upwardly from the upper ends of the members 29 and 2| inpositions lying rearwardly of the arouate faces 2! shown in Fig. 6.These upwardly projecting webs I8I are disposed in such position thatthey lie in transverse alignment on an axis vc---c or vertical planewhen the members 29 and 2| are swung into open position, as shown inFig; .6, which extends through the centers d of the trunnions 58, atwhich points they are engaged by the links II. The webs I8! have upper.faces I88 which slope inwardly and downwardly as shown in Fig. 2. Whenthe elevator I9 is in open position as shown in Fig. 6, and also in Fig.'7, the sloping faces I88 serve to guide the pipe 88 into a centralizedposition relative to the elevator I9 and along the axis ee appearing inFig. 6, should the pipe 39 engage either of the sloping shouldersI88,'as the pipe is lowered onto the elevator or when the elevator islifted upwardly-under and against the end portion of the pipe'38 whensuch'pipe is in a reclining-position, as shown inbroken lines in-Figfll.

Should the elevator not be entirely closed but As illustrated in Figs-6and 7, when: the elevator does not support a pipe or other object thetwo members are supported in. opened position, being held by the spring4'! with the stops I86 and I8! shown in Fig. l in engagement witheachother. The automatic applying of the elevatorto a stand of pipe isaccomplished by extending the stand .of pipe in an inclined position, asindicated at 38 in Fig. 7, so that the end thereof extends above theelevator and between the links II. The stand of pipe is then caused toengage the elevator either by a raising of the elevator, but preferablyby a lowering of the pipe. If the pipe is not aligned with the axis e-B,shown in Fig. 6, but is to one side or the other, the pipe will engagethe sloping surfaces I 88 of the webs I8! and be guided toward the axisee so that that portion of the pipe extending above the elevator willpass over the hinge pin axis 12-12. It will be understood that theengagement of the pipe with the webs III? will not cause a swinging orrotation of the elevators from normal position due to the fact thatthese webs are placed along the plane cc, as previously pointed out.When the pipe moves into the centralized position, as shown in Figs. 6and '7, it will come into engagement with an upwardly projecting lug II2formed at the rear of the hinge lug 3|. This results in the weight ofthe pipe being applied eccentrically to the axis c-c, with the resultthat the elevators will be caused to rotate on the trunnions 58 and willmove from the position shown in Fig. 7 into the position shown in Fig. 8in which the channels formed through the pipe supporting members are inalignment with the axis of the pipe. During this movement the weight ofthe pipe which is transferred to the travelling block hook I2 producesthe inwardly directed forces indicated by the arrows f, Fig. 6, whichact around the hinge pin and cause the pipe engaging members 28 and 2|to move into a closed position and be latched around the pipe.

The elevators are likewise susceptible of manual operation by theworkmen engaging the handles and swinging them toward and around a pipepositioned in proper position to accommodate the elevators. To manuallyclose the pipe supporting members, considerable effort is not requiredin view of the fact that the spring 4! is just made sufiicient toovercome the forces indicated by the arrows which result from the weightof the elevator itself hanging on the links II. If it is necessary tomanually rotate the elevator on the trunnions 59, this likewise does notrequire considerable effort due to the fact that the trunnions are 50positioned that the plane of rotation on the lower portions 69 of thelinks II is in a substantially medial plane close to the center ofgravity.

After the closing of the elevator around the pipe 38,'as described inthe preceding paragraph, a further upward movement of the lifting meansI2 will swing the pipe 39 toward vertical position and the upper ends,or arcuate faces 21 of the members 29 and 2|, will be brought intoengagement with the downwardly presented shoulder 29 of the collar 29,as shown in Fig. 10. In Fig. 10 it will be noted that by reason of thefact that the links II converge upwardly there are in addition to themere lifting action of these links II on each of the trunnions 58 theinward forces f tending to force the pipe engagement members 28 and 2|toward each other. This inward'force cooperates withit efie t orfunction of the sloping hinge pin 39 to constantly exert a force on themembers and 2| tending to hold these members in closed relation, thisclosing force being sufllcient to move the members 20 and 2| from apartly closed relation, wherein the primary shoulder 93 is in engagementwith the latching shoulder 98, to a fully closed relation wherein thesecondary latching shoulder 94 is in engagement with the shoulder 98. Inthe use of my device, where the elevator is applied to a pipe in only apartly closed relation so that there is only a primary engagement of thelatch means 13, the downward force of the pipe, and the upward reactionsof the links H in cooperation with the action of the sloping hinge pin39 will immediately close the members 2|] and 2| to such position thatengagement of the secondary shoulder 94 with the latching shoulder 98 isaccomplished.

Although I have herein shown a simple and practical form of myinvention, it will be recognized that the features and principlesthereof can be embodied in other forms of my invention,

and that therefore the scope of the invention is not limited to theembodiment herein disclosed but only by the hereafter recited claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. In an elevator of the character described,the combination of a pair of cooperating members hinged together attheir rearward edges so as to be swung into closed relation around apipe; means exerting a yieldable force on said members tending to swingthem into open relation; latch means for locking said members in closedrelation around said pipe; trunnions on said members, and suspensionmeans engaging said trunnions, the hinging axis of said members being soinclined relative to the axis of a pipe vertically suspended by saidmembers that the weight of the pipe exerts a closing force on thesuspended members greater than said yieldable force.

2. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of: a pairof cooperating members hinged together on a substantially diametralplane and occupying positions on opposite sides of said plane; a springplaced so as to exert a yieldable force on said members, tending to movethe same to open relation; latch means for locking said members inclosed relation around the pipe, said latch means having two positionsof latching engagement consisting of a primary position in which saidmembers are not fully closed around said pipe, and a secondary positionin which said members are fully closed around said pipe; and suspendingmeans for connecting said members to a lifting device, the hinging axisof said members being so inclined relative to the axis of a pipevertically suspended by said members that the weight of the pipe exertsa closing force on said members to close said members from said primaryposition to said secondary position of said latch means.

3. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of: a pairof members adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of a pipe to belifted, said members defining an opening to receive the pipe; a hingeconnecting adjacent sides of said members together so that they mayswing from closed to open relation, said hinge defining an axis whichslopes downwardly and inwardly toward said opening; suspending meansengaging said members; and latch means for locking said members togetherin closed relation around said pipe.

4. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of a pairof members adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of a pipe to belifted; a hinge connecting adjacent sides of said members togethersothat they may swing from closed to open relation, said hinge defining anaxis which slopes downwardly and inwardly toward said members;suspending means engaging said members; and latch means for locking saidmembers together in closed relation around said pipe, said latch meanshaving two positions of engagement comprising a primary position inwhich said members are not fully closed around said pipe, and asecondary position in which said members are completely closed aroundsaid pipe, and said suspending means being so positioned relative tosaid hinge as to cause said members to swing from said primary positionto said secondary position in response to the force applied to saidmembers and the reaction of said suspending means by the weight of apipe engaged by said members.

5. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of: a pairof members formed so as to engage opposite sides of a pipe to be lifted,said members having trunnions projecting outwardly therefrom insubstantially opposite directions when said members are in closedrelation around said pipe; a hinge connecting adjacent sides of saidmembers together so that they may swing between open and closedrelation, said hinge being disposed on an axis which slopes relative tosaid pipe; suspending means engaging said trunnions and extendingupwardly therefrom; means exerting a yieldable force on said membersonly sufficient to move the same from closed to open relation when saidmembers are not engaged by said pipe; and latch means for locking saidmembers together when they are brought into closed relation.

6. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of: a pairof members formed so as to engage opposite sides of a pipe to be lifted,said members having trunnions projecting outwardly therefrom insubstantially opposite directions when said members are in closed relation around said pipe; a hinge connecting adjacent sides of said memberstogether so that they may swing between open and closed relation;suspending means engaging said trunnions and extending upwardlytherefrom; and latch means for locking said members together when theyare brought into closed relation, said latch means comprising a latchingshoulder on one of said members and pivoted latch element on the otherof said members, said latch element being pivoted on an axis in a planesubstantially normal to the axis of the pipe and being counter-Weightedso that lateral impact on said members from any angle will be withoutunlatching effect.

7. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of:cooperating members hinged together so as to be closed around a pipe tobe lifted; suspending means for connecting said members to a liftingmeans; and latch means for locking said members in closed relationaround said pipe, said latch means comprising a lever member pivotallyconnected to one of said members and providing a dog adapted to swingoutwardly from said pipe into latching position and an operating handleforming a part of said lever and being disposed so as to swing outwardlyrelative to said pipe as said dog swings into nonlatching position, andsaid latch means including a, shoulder member on another of saidfirstnamedzcooperating members disposed in a position-to be. engagedbysaidadog when it moves outwardly relative to said pipe into saidlatching position thereof.

8. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of:cooperating members hinged together so as to be closed around a pipe tobe .lifted; suspending means for connecting said :members to a liftingmeans; and latchmeans for locking said members in closed relation aroundsaid pipe, said latch means comprising a lever member pivotallyconnected to one of said members and providing a dog adapted to swingoutwardly from said pipe into latching position and an operating handleforming a part of said lever and being disposed so as to swing outwardlyrela lever.

-9. In an elevator of the character described, the combination-of:cooperating members hinged together so as tobe closed around a pipe tobe .lifted; suspending 'means for connecting said members to a liftingmeans; and latching means forlocking said members in closed relationaround .said pipe, said latching means comprising ashoulder on one ofsaid members, a dog on the other of said members adapted to come into.latching engagement with said shoulder, and .means-separate fromsaidshoulder for lifting ..said.dog..over.said shoulder as said membersare brought into closed relation around said pipe.

10. In an elevator, a pair of work engaging jaws adapted to engage acasing for supporting the same,.means operatively connecting said jaws,a latch member, a pivot to. mount said latch member on, one jaw,a-support integral with the same jaw for supporting the swinging end ofthe latch member, and a lug on the other jaw adapted to engage the latchmember at a point between the pivot and the latch support, to lock theelevator jaws in closed position.

11. In an elevator, the combination of: cooperating members hingedtogether so as to be closed around a pipe to be lifted; suspending meansfor connecting said members to a lifting means; and latching means forlocking. said members in closed relation around said pipe, said latchingmeans comprising a lug on one hinged member to which a latch is pivoted,supporting means attached to the same member as the pivot lug forsupporting the swinging end of the latch, and

an engaging lug on the other hinged member, which lug engages the latchbetween the supporting member and the pivot lug when the elevator-is inclosed relation.

12. man elevator of the character described, the combination of a pairof members formed so as to engage opposite sides of a pipe to beliftedgsaid members having trunnions projecting outwardly therefrom insubstantially opposite to .move the-same from closed to open relationwhen said members are not engaged by saidpipe; latch means for lockingsaid members together when they are brought into closed relation; andhandle members extending outwardly from the lower portions of saidmembers in such positions that lateral force applied thereto will swingsaid elevator on said suspending means.

13. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of: apair of members formed so as to engage opposite sides of a pipe to belifted, said members having trunnions projecting outwardly therefrom insubstantially opposite directions when said members are in closedrelation around said pipe, and defining a transverse axis disposed belowthe top of and above the intermediate plane of said members; a hingeconnecting adjacent sides of said members together so that they mayswing between open and closed relation; suspending means engaging saidtrunnions and extending upwardly therefrom; means exerting a yieldableforce on said membersonly sufficient to move the same from closed toopen relation when said members are not engaged by said pipe; latchmeans for locking said members together when they are brought intoclosed relation; and handle members extending outwardly from saidfirst-named members in positions below said suspending means so that alateral force applied to said handle members will cause said elevator toswing around said transverse axis.

14. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of: apair of members formed so as to engage opposite sides of a pipe to belifted, said members having trunnions projecting outwardly therefrom insubstantially opposite directions when said members are in closedrelation around said pipe; a hinge connecting adjacent sides of. saidmembers together so that they may swing between open and closedrelation; suspending means engaging said trunnions and extendingupwardly therefrom; means exerting a yieldable force on said membersonly sufiicient to move the same from closed to open relation when saidmembers are not engaged by said pipe; latch means for locking saidmembers together when they are brought into closed relation; and meansat the upper ends of said members which slope inwardly and downwardly soas to guide a pipe member which comes into engagement therewith intocentralized relation to said members to assist in bringing said pipeinto a position wherein said members may close around said pipe.

15. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of: apair of cooperating substantially cylindrical members adapted to engageopposite sides of the pipe; a hinge connecting adjacent sides of saidmembers together so that they may swing between relative open and closedpositions, said members each having a trunnion projecting outwardlytherefrom in substantially diametral plane of said elevator transverseto the diametral plane on which said hinge is located; link membersengaging said trunnions and extending upwardly therefrom; and latchmeans disposed opposite said hinge for locking the free edges of saidmembers together in closed relation around said pipe, said latch meanscomprising a shoulder on one of said members and a dog supported on theother of said members so as to swing outwardly away from said pipe intoengagement with said shoulder.

16. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of t apair of cooperating substantially cylindrical members adapted to engageopposite sides of a pipe; a hinge connecting adjacent sides of saidmembers together so that they may swing between relative open and closedpositions; trunnions projecting diametrally outwardly from said members;vertical bars extending downwardly from the outer portions of saidtrunnions; open-work handles placed so that the inner portions thereofengage said members and the outer portions thereof engage the lower endsof said vertical bars; suspending means engaging said trunnions; andlatch means disposed opposite said hinge means and being formed so as tolock the free edges of said members together around said pipe.

17. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of: apair of cooperating substantially cylindrical members adapted to engageopposite sides of a pipe; a hinge connecting adjacent sides of saidmembers together so that they may swing between relative open and closedpositions; trunnions projecting diametrally outwardly from the saidmembers, said trunnions defining a lateral axis between the upper andlower ends of said members; vertical bars extending downwardly from theouter portions of said trunnions; open-work handles placed so that theinner portions thereof engage the lower parts of said members and theouter portions thereof engage the lower ends of said vertical bars;suspending means engaging said trunnions; latch means for looking thefree edges of said members together; and walls at the upper ends of saidmembers which slope downwardly and inwardly so as to guide a pipe whichcomes into engagement therewith into centralized relation to saidmembers whereby the weight of said pipe will cause said members to swingon said trunnions into a position of alignment with said pipe to permitsaid suspending means to swing said members on said hinge into closedrelation around said pipe.

18. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of: apair of cooperating substantially cylindrical members adapted to engageopposite sides of a pipe; a hinge connecting adjacent sides of saidmembers together so that they may swing between relatively open andclosed positions, said hinge being disposed on an axis which slopesdownwardly and inwardly relative to the vertical axis defined by saidmembers when they are in closed position; trunnions projectingdiametrally outwardly from said members, said trunnions defining alateral axis between the upper and lower ends of said members; verticalbars extending downwardly from the outer portions of said trunnions;open-work handles placed so that the inner portions thereof engage thelower parts of said members and the outer portions engage the lower endsof said vertical bars; suspending means engaging said trunnions; latchmeans for locking the free edges of said members together; and walls atthe upper ends of said members which slope downwardly and inwardly so asto guide a pipe which comes into engagement therewith into centralizedrelation to said members whereby the weight of said pipe will cause saidmembers to swing on said trunnions into a position of alignment withsaid pipe to permit said suspending means to swing said members on saidhinge into closed relation around said pipe.

19. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of:cooperating members hinged together at adjacent edges thereof so as tobe swung into closed relation around a pipe; latch means for lockingsaid members together when they are in closed relation around said pipe;and a plurality of means for suspending said cooperating members in openrelation, one of said suspending means being connected to one of saidmembers and another of said suspending means being connected to anotherof said members; the hinging axis of said members being so inclinedrelative to the axis of a pipe vertically suspended by said members thatthe weight of the pipe exerts a closing force on the suspended members.

20. In an elevator of the character described, the combination of a pairof cooperating members hinged together on a substantially diametralplane and occupying positions on opposite sides of said plane; latchmeans for locking said members in closed relation around the pipe, saidlatch means having two positions of latching engagement consisting of aprimary position in which said members are not fully closed around saidpipe, and a secondary position in which said members are fully closedaround said pipe; and suspending means for connecting said members to alifting device, the hinging axis of said members being so inclinedrelative to the axis of a pipe vertically suspended by said members thatthe Weight of the pipe exerts a closing force on said members to closesaid members from said primary position to said secondary position ofsaid latch means.

21. An elevator of the class described comprising a pair of pipeengaging members, means pivotally connecting said members together,means for latching said members together in closed position wherein theydefine an opening adapted to receive the pipe to be engaged, trunnionson said members, suspension means pivotally engaging said trunnions, andstop means on said members arranged to limit the opening swing of saidmembers so that the free ends of said members will be spaced apart adistance sufiicient to admit the pipe, the pivoting axis between saidtrunnions and suspension means being so disposed and the opening extentof said members being such that with said members suspended and the axisof said opening in vertical position, said members may be fully openedWithout causing any substantial tilting thereof relative to saidsuspension means.

22. An elevator of the class described comprising a pair of pipeengaging members, means pivotally connecting said members together, stopmeans on said members arranged to limit the opening swing of saidmembers so that the free ends of said members will be spaced apart adistance sufiicient to admit the pipe to be engaged, trunnions on saidmembers, suspension means pivotally engaging said trunnions, means forlatching said members together in closed relation, and spring meansserving when said latching means is released to open said members and tohold them in open relation with said stop means in abutment.

WILLIAM W. WILSON.

